“We in America do not want to run into any problems stemming from religious differences as it once did. I believe we should make our society strong and united.

Anything that can make it weak or divided should be avoided.” (http://www.nj.com/cumberland/voices/index.ssf/2011/10/dont_mix_religion_and_politics.html)This reads a lot like the standard “Separation of Church and State” myth found nowhere in our Constitution.

“We in America”? Does the writer speak for all? I couldn’t disagree more. Those who argue never mix religion and politics (church and state) do not have history or reason on their side. History proves that principles, moral codes and laws of societies are always derived from the prevailing religious creeds of their particular era. Can one really deny the primary role that religion has always played in all cultures and rules of societies to this day?

The Egyptians, Persians, Asians, Greeks and Romans had their assortment of ancient polytheistic gods. Israel, Europe, North America, most of contemporary Africa and South America follow the monotheistic God of the Bible. In the Middle East it’s Allah. In the Far East, it’s a variety of religions including Hindu, Buddhism, and Taoism. In Western nations it’s been Christianity. Africa is a mix of Christian, Islamic and tribal religions. (See http://www.worldreligions.psu.edu/images/artimages/maps/worldmap.jpg) There’s hardly a person who doesn’t “believe in” some code of right and wrong even if unconsciously. That which one “believes in” is his religion.

Even the notorious atheist tyrants Stalin and Hitler had definite belief systems that motivated their actions. In fact, atheists actually do have an image of a supreme being. It is Man, evolved from once inert substance by some freak chance of nature. Imagine (not verifiable), non-living matter somehow transforms itself into living matter … by accident! It then evolves into incredibly complex, systematic, intelligent, creative, emotional man with conspicuous symmetrical design. Matter can even heal and reproduce itself! All with no design or work?

Atheists’ religious belief in random life and progressive complexity actually demands the greatest leap of faith of all religions! Open the back of an intricate spring-wound mechanical watch and imagine how it could have somehow created itself by pure chance. Even though this is loopy theory that can never be proved, it is just so.

The great Western Civilization is distinctly based on a biblical foundation. Our laws were derivatives of the Decalogue. The Judeo-Christian system of belief and practice is thoroughly “mixed” into all of our founding political documents, as it is in our family makeup, literature, music, art, institutions and our entire way of life.

I think the writer’s objection to religion in politics could not be more mistaken. One should consult our history before presuming to speak for “We in America.” I’m one of untold millions extremely thankful our founders did intentionally “mix religion with politics.” Also their blood and fortunes were mixed with such religious fervor.

Christendom, especially America, thrived for centuries while the rest of the world was far behind. Why is that?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” And “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them” plus “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” Explicitly “religious” excerpts from our founding document penned by Thomas Jefferson?

When the colonists cast off any conjured Divine Right to rule over them, King George III of England most likely hoped that “We in America do not want to run into any problems stemming from religious differences.” But on pain of death, courageous Christian patriots insisted, “We have no king but Jesus” and fought for their “differences.” They placed faith in God, not repressive autocratic government, which they distrusted intensely.

Soon after Thomas Jefferson wrote, “all men are created equal,” even with kings, their “religious differences” with King George took a long bloody War of Independence to settle.

Furthermore, “rights” do not issue from mortal kings, or presidents! Jefferson declared, “rights” are “endowed by their Creator” as being “unalienable” and thus unchangeable. Did atheists establish America? Or religious statesmen who “mixed church and state.”It’s not a question if religion will shape our world. It’s only a question of whose religion will shape our world.